Not as good as Cleopatra, but I thoroughly enjoy her writing and will continue to read her releases. I was mostly enthralled by Bonnie’s Actual: 3 1/2
Not as good as Cleopatra, but I thoroughly enjoy her writing and will continue to read her releases. I was mostly enthralled by Bonnie’s story, as it was unlike anything I’ve read before, but I saw myself mostly in Avery and her overall personality and internalized beliefs. I just found the story to be a little…not boring, but just lacking something, towards the middle....more
This started out really wildly addicting but started to get a bit melodramatic towards the end. I really couldn’t stomach the ChristophMore of a 3 1/2
This started out really wildly addicting but started to get a bit melodramatic towards the end. I really couldn’t stomach the Christopher chapters sometimes, and I felt that the book tried to bite off too much with the various storylines, with some being very well formed and others being kind of lackluster. I can see why this book is popular and was made into a TV show though; it is full of twists and keeps you wanting more....more
This went on for soooooooo much longer than necessary. I was over it by the end for sure. Everyone was kind of annoying and I didn’t care about the plThis went on for soooooooo much longer than necessary. I was over it by the end for sure. Everyone was kind of annoying and I didn’t care about the plight of any of the characters. I still don’t fully understand the motive of the original act, and I feel like the author was just trying to throw in as much as possible to make to different and surprising....more
This mom has some strong, mixed, and strange feelings about her children. I could not get a feel for what was going on with all the time changes and mThis mom has some strong, mixed, and strange feelings about her children. I could not get a feel for what was going on with all the time changes and multiple pregnancies. Don’t know why this book is being as widely talked about as it is....more
I would be curious to know who Republican John Ramsey voted for, considering he is such a proponent of the truth and not voting for politicians who loI would be curious to know who Republican John Ramsey voted for, considering he is such a proponent of the truth and not voting for politicians who look like movie stars (or actually are movie stars). I cannot say who committed the atrocities against JonBenet, but I know there is some shady stuff that the Ramseys said and did, and I don’t think that writing a book where they talked about themselves for 80% of it is the best look. Putting yourself on the cover of the book and your daughter, the focus of the whole situation, on the back, is telling.
Also, at least try to act like nice people who don’t think you’re better than everyone in your book. Even if someone knows what happened to your daughter, they may not be interested in telling you since you’re close-minded and clearly right-wing. Eat the rich....more
This had some good information in it, and I found the beginning to be very strong. As it went on, it got a bit repetitive and preachy (and I’m a liberThis had some good information in it, and I found the beginning to be very strong. As it went on, it got a bit repetitive and preachy (and I’m a liberal who agrees with their ideology!) I can tell these ladies are passionate about helping people with their stress, but I feel like the huge focus on the patriarchy might take away from their argument and alienate some readers....more
I don’t think I fully understood some aspects of this book, but I found it to be creepy and unique. The ending was what really stumped me, so I might I don’t think I fully understood some aspects of this book, but I found it to be creepy and unique. The ending was what really stumped me, so I might look for some clarification on that….overall, could’ve been shorter and a little better explained, but I was definitely interested most of the story....more
Ummm, that was 0% enjoyment for me. The characters all hate each other and can only hang out civilly when they are drunk/high. I did not understand thUmmm, that was 0% enjoyment for me. The characters all hate each other and can only hang out civilly when they are drunk/high. I did not understand this made up sport in it at all, and there is literally only 1 game that is covered, so it’s a pretty small portion of the book. Things happened that were not explained enough, so it just left you feeling unmoored and like WTF??? I will not be continuing this series; it read like a Wattpad fanfiction. ...more
DAAAAMN. I don’t know what I was expecting going into this one, but I was hooked from the first page. Loved how the teacher kept it real with th4 1/2
DAAAAMN. I don’t know what I was expecting going into this one, but I was hooked from the first page. Loved how the teacher kept it real with those kids (I’m that teacher), and I loved how we got to see the story from various perspectives and really get into the head of each person involved. I think this is one of the most harrowing and unique books I’ve read in years, so kudos for this being her first book....more
There were aspects of this that I liked, particularly how hard it is to “win” as a woman in the eye’s of society. I found it to get a little bit bizarThere were aspects of this that I liked, particularly how hard it is to “win” as a woman in the eye’s of society. I found it to get a little bit bizarre in the middle though, and I had no idea where the book was trying to go. The love between Margo and her son was transmitted through the pages, and I would recommend it for anyone who is feeling nervous about having a child and making that big life change....more
This was cutesy, and I liked it a bit more than The Seven Year Slip, mostly because that one confused the heck out of me. I liked the slow burn relatiThis was cutesy, and I liked it a bit more than The Seven Year Slip, mostly because that one confused the heck out of me. I liked the slow burn relationship, and I liked how it talks about the transformative way of books and stories and how they will live on inside of us....more
Way too biased to give anything more than 2 stars. It took 100 pages for John to stop talking about how infatuated he was with Smit and how accomplishWay too biased to give anything more than 2 stars. It took 100 pages for John to stop talking about how infatuated he was with Smit and how accomplished they both were. The middle of the book did talk about the evidence of the JonBenet case, but the ending went back to being a brag fest. This book didn’t feel like it was written for JonBenet. I do agree that there is evidence that points to a stun gun being involved, but you cannot say that with 100% confidence unless you found the stun gun or had the killer confess to using that to incapacitate her. The number of times I rolled my eyes while reading this is definitely higher than my star rating....more
I felt like she was trying toooo hard to throw us off in this one. Too many similarities between characters and then having them be two separate peoplI felt like she was trying toooo hard to throw us off in this one. Too many similarities between characters and then having them be two separate people. I was intrigued by unfolding of events, and I enjoyed the audiobook. Easy to digest, but definitely could have been less on the nose....more
Ummmm, still trying to wrap my head around what I just read. The world building definitely needs some work, and the way that the book never really felUmmmm, still trying to wrap my head around what I just read. The world building definitely needs some work, and the way that the book never really felt like it had a flow bugged me. Is is that hard to put a name at the start of the chapter so we know what we’re getting into? I also found the buildup of the relationship to be 0 to 100. The ending took me by surprise as it was just…obsession all of a sudden. I have some questions about the actual plot itself, but I don’t care enough to try to figure it out. This book could have been a masterpiece with some work; it is definitely unique....more
This was actually soooo addicting of an audiobook. I have only read one of McFadden’s book, and I remember it being pretty cringe. This one had a bit This was actually soooo addicting of an audiobook. I have only read one of McFadden’s book, and I remember it being pretty cringe. This one had a bit of cringe, but I found it to be pretty well written, and I did not see that twist coming. I will be reading more by her, if for no other reason than her books are easy to race through....more
“…there are several people in Boulder who are going to have to beg their way into Heaven after this one.”
Steve Thomas devoted his life to solving this“…there are several people in Boulder who are going to have to beg their way into Heaven after this one.”
Steve Thomas devoted his life to solving this case, and I cannot imagine how haunted he is every day by the things he saw and heard. Despite who you think murdered JonBenét, you cannot read this account and not question how the Ramseys behaved and evaded the police. Anyone without money would not have been able to chart their own course as they had, and they did not act as if they wanted to do everything in their power to get justice for their daughter.
One thing I noticed that was strange and didn’t align with the Crime Junkie podcast and interview with John Ramsey….was Linda Arndt on their side or not? In the interview, John makes it sound like he didn’t trust her because she was out to get them from the start, but in this book, Steve makes it seem like they liked her a lot and confided in her…anyway who is an expert on this case notice the same thing?...more
The beginning was strong but then it started to go downhill when she kept making the same ridiculous decisions. Can’t believe David continued to forgiThe beginning was strong but then it started to go downhill when she kept making the same ridiculous decisions. Can’t believe David continued to forgive her over and over. Her audiobook definitely gave me the ick at times, as she feels very self-possessed and contradictory, making it seem like she’s the only true sociopath but then saying she wants to save all of the insecure sociopaths out there....more
Hmm, I think I had too high of expectations with this one. It doesn’t help that I can’t understand Shakespeare in any way, shape, or form. I had to SpHmm, I think I had too high of expectations with this one. It doesn’t help that I can’t understand Shakespeare in any way, shape, or form. I had to Sparknote all of that shit in high school. The story itself was unique and atmospheric, and I can understand why people are eating it up. A huge chunk of it is Shakespeare lines, and so a lot of it was probably lost on me....more
The hell did I just read? Nothing happened. I can’t believe this book doesn’t have a lower rating. Saying it is a sequel to The Giver feels blasphemouThe hell did I just read? Nothing happened. I can’t believe this book doesn’t have a lower rating. Saying it is a sequel to The Giver feels blasphemous. The most pointless 4 hours of my life....more